Reinforced page and method of printing on same

ABSTRACT

A reinforced page suitable for insertion in a notebook or the like has along one edge a plastic with a metal or metallized surface for reinforcement. Holes extend through the metal and plastic. The method of printing with such a page involves passing the page through a printing or copying device where it is exposed to heat, such as a xerographic dry copier, with the metal surface facing toward the heat source.

UIlitd States Patent 1 91 Hackley 1 1 May 8, 1973 54] REINFORCED PAGEAND METHOD OF 3,637,983 1/1972 PRINTING ON SAME 2,059,148 10/19362,375,582 5/1945 Inventor: Kenneth Lewis y, Oxford, 2,422,935 6/1947Straubel et a1. ..402 79 Ohio . Primary ExaminerJohn J. Camby [73]Assigneez Champion International Corp0ra- Knightsbridge OhioAttorney-Daniel P. Worth [22] Filed: June 3, 1971 [57] ABSTRACT [211App]. No.: 149,431 A reinforced page suitable for insertion in anotebook or the like has along one edge a plastic with a metal ormetallized surface for reinforcement. Holes extend [52] US. Cl ..432/10,432/226 through the metal and plastia Tha method of Printing 51 Int. (:1..F27b 9 14 with such a page involves passing the page through a [58]Fleld of Search "263/6 E, 52, 50; Printing or copying device Where it isexposed to heat 402/79 such as a xerographic dry copier, with the metalsurface facing toward the heat source. [56] References Cited 5 Claims, 2Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,591,400 7/1971 Palmquist et a1...263/50 REINFORCED PAGE AND METHOD OF PRINTING ON SAME SUMMARY OFINVENTION This invention relates to improvements in reinforced pages.One aspect of the invention relates to improvements in reinforced pagesfor insertion in a looseleaf notebook and the like having on one sideplastic with a metal surface and a hole or other opening therein. Themethod of printing involves passing the page with the metal-surfacedplastic facing toward a source of heat of the sort which may be found ina xerographic dry copier or the like.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION It is known to make reinforced pages of the sortto be bound into looseleaf notebooks. These pages have reinforcementsalong the edges where holes are punched for connection to a ring or postbinder. The reinforcing strip has been paper, plastic or the likesecured by a pressure sensitive or hot melt adhesive to the main pagemember.

It has been discovered that the reinforcing strip separates duringtransport of the page through a printing machine of the xerographic dryprinting type (e.g., as made by the Xerox Corporation) where the page issubjected to extreme heat during certain phases of printing. Theadhesives, being thermoplastic in character or otherwise softenable byheat, permit this. Where the reinforcing strip is plastic the problem ismade worse by softening or partial melting of the strip itself andconsequent adhesion or sticking to parts of the printing apparatus.

These problems arise because the temperatures to which the page may beexposed might run as high as 600 700 F the plastic film (oftenpolyester) has a softening point in the range from 175 300 F and theadhesive conventionally used to secure film or reinforcing paper to thepage panel member has a melting temperature of about 350 F. and maysoften at a much lower temperature. The reinforcing strip may delaminatewhen the adhesive softens. The softening arises from a combination ofthe temperature and the length of time the page is exposed to thattemperature in the printing process.

The present invention has for an objective providing a reinforced pagemember whereby it may be passed through a xerographic dry printingmachine without the reinforcement coming loose due to the heat. Anotherobjective of the present invention is to provide improved reinforcingmeans to a page of the kind here involved that will not require anysubstantial changes in the machinery for manufacturing reinforced pages.

A page or divider of the sort normally used for a notebook or postbinder insert has a reinforcement along one edge comprising a plasticstrip coated or surfaced with metal through which holes are punched. Forconvenience I may term this metallized plastic. The holes of course arefor attachment to the looseleaf binder or the like. The metallized stripacts to reflect the heat while the page is passing through a xerographicdry printing machine, e.g., of the sort made by the Xerox Corporation.The reflection of heat by the strip reflects heat during the time thatthe page is transported through the xerographic printer. The strip, ofcourse, is positioned so that the metallized surface faces toward thesource of heat during printing in order to assure the use of itsreflective power.

The method of printing with the present invention involves passing apage having an edge reinforcement of metallized plastic and with holesthrough such reinforcement through a printing machine, preferably axerographic printer, having a source of high heat therein, the metalsurface of the reinforcement being positioned to reflect heat from saidsource.

The invention will be better appreciated from the followingspecification when read in conjunction with the annexed drawing andclaims wherein:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a xerographic dry printer with a pagegoing therethrough to receive printing thereon;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective partially cutaway schematic view of anedge reinforced page made according to the present invention.

Referring first to FIG. 1 there is shown a page 1 passing through axerographic dry printer. When the page passes a printing station, images2 are applied thereto by a drum 3 which has a toner or dry printingpowder 4 held in patterns thereon by electric charges, the patterns andimages having been formed in a wellknown manner using the images 2written on a master sheet 5, photoconductive surfaces on the drum 3 ofmaterial or materials which are electrically charged or discharged bylight from a source 6 (e.g., a light bulb) directed to said drumsurface, the toners of powders 4 highly responsive to the electriccharges remaining on charged parts of the drum surface until printed onthe paper 1, and an infrared or similar heat source 7 to melt the resincontained in the dry printing powder or toner. The melting of the resincauses the printing powder which is black to adhere to the sheet andform a relatively permanent and stable image 2. All of this is wellknownin the art and the several means for practicing same are known in theart. They form no part of the invention but instead form some of themeans creating problems here. The present invention as already noted isdirected at obviating some of these problems such as those wherein theedge reinforcement of the page comes loose or is warmed up to the pointthat it sticks to some of the printing apparatus.

It has been found that the use of a metallized plastic strip 11 (FIG. 2)is effective to reflect sufficient heat from the infrared or otherheating source so that the adhesive and the tape surface do not becomesoftened to the point where the reinforcement is lost or there isadhesion and sticking to the parts of the printing machine. As best seenin FIG. 2, the present invention involves a sheet of paper 12 ofwhatever dimensions are appropriate for fitting a notebook, post binderor like assemblage. having a reinforcement secured to one edge by anadhesive 14. The adhesive is a thermoplastic adhesive, preferably can beconventional hot melt adhesive but other adhesives can be used, e.g., aheat curable (thermosetting) adhesive, or a catalytically curedadhesive. The strip itself is preferably polyester film (preferablyMylar).

On the outer face of the polyester film is a coating or layer of metal15. This preferably is a commercially available type of vacuum depositedaluminum, but other reflective materials can be used, e.g., copper,silver, gold. Electrolessly plated metals are also feasible but expensemay make them less desirable:

nickel and copper are the most desirable of this catego ry. It is acharacteristic of these metallized films that the metal does not reducefilm flexibility but provides sufi'icient reflectivity to shield filmand adhesive against any significant softening during printing.

A suitable metallized polyester film is Scotchpar XM 130092 comprising 1mil (0.001 inch) polyester film metallized on one side and made byMinnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company. A suitable hot melt adhesiveis glue No. 6018 made by the Manufacturing Chemical Company of Camden,New Jersey. These used in combination with a conventional paper pagebasis weight 20 pounds per 17 inch X 22 inch ream of 500 sheets (51pounds per 500 sheet ream 25 X 38 inches) can be fed through a Model2400 or 3600-l Xerox machine made by the Xerox Corporation at rates of2400 and 3600 copies per hour, respectively, without being softened.This feed rate provides one of the longest exposure times to infrared orheat source in commercial equipment of this type.

Although metallized plastic is preferred, on some occasions a thin metalfoil may be adhered to the paper as reinforcement. Generally the plasticfilm is stronger, doesnt tear as easily, is less likely to cut a user,and handles better during manufacture.

The edge reinforcement also has a hole or holes 16 punched therethroughfor securing the page to the ring binder or post binder of the book intowhich the reinforced page is inserted.

EXAMPLE I A sheet which had a strip of 9/16 inch wide No. XMl30092 (seeabove) metallized plastic (polyester) film tape and a strip ofunmetallized plastic of the same material was fed through a Model 2400Xerox which runs temperatures on the order of 340 375. No. 6018 (seeabove) hot melt glue was employed, being held at a pot or applicationtemperature of about 350 F. for manufacturing purposes. The unmetallizedtape was melted loose, curled up and stopped the machine.

The strip of metallized was unaffected. The sheet was retrieved from theheat fusing section of the machine after the stoppage.

EXAMPLE n A number of metallized samples of reinforced pages were fedthrough a Xerox machine Model 2400. None of them failed. Additionalsamples that were not metallized came apart during similar tests run atabout the same time on the same machine.

The readers attention is directed to the expired US. Pat. No. 2,502,785which teaches a piece of metal foil secured to one edge of a filingcard, or business machine card. This patent discloses little tabs ofcard material 5, 6, 7 (reference numbers of said patent) which can bepulled loose to expose the metal underneath. There is no hole punchedthrough the metallic member 8.

The invention claimed is:

l. A method of printing on a reinforced page having adhered thereto byan adhesive an edge reinforcement with holes therethrough, comprisingpassing said page through a xerographic dry printing machine, applyingan image on at least a portion of such page, and exposing said edgereinforcement to a source of heat in said machine, providing a metal ormetallized surface on said edge reinforcement whereby heat from saidsource is reflected, and maintaining said metallized surface facingtoward said source of heat and between said source and said page duringthe time said page is exposed to said source.

2. A printing method according to claim 1 wherein said edgereinforcement is aluminum foil.

3. A printing method according to claim 1 wherein said adhesive is athermoplastic adhesive.

4. A printing method according to claim 1 wherein said adhesive ispressure sensitive.

5. A printing method according to claim 1 wherein said edgereinforcement is polyester film.

1. A method of printing on a reinforced page having adhered thereto byan adhesive an edge reinforcement with holes therethrough, comprisingpassing said page through a xerographic dry printing machine, applyingan image on at least a portion of such page, and exposing said edgereinforcement to a source of heat in said machine, providing a metal ormetallized surface on said edge reinforcement whereby heat from saidsource is reflected, and maintaining said metallized surface facingtoward said source of heat and between said source and said page duringthe time said page is exposed to said source.
 2. A printing methodaccording to claim 1 wherein said edge reinforcement is aluminum foil.3. A printing method according to claim 1 wherein said adhesive is athermoplastic adhesive.
 4. A printing method according to claim 1wherein said adhesive is pressure sensitive.
 5. A printing methodaccording to claim 1 wherein said edge reinforcement is polyester film.